Petunia plant named ‘Kakegawa S29’

ABSTRACT

A Petunia plant particularly distinguished by its pale lavender pink flower color and creeping, mounding habit.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Petunia hybrida.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Kakegawa S29’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia, botanically known as Petunia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Kakegawa S29’. ‘Kakegawa S29’ originated from a hybridization made in 1997 in Kakegawa, Japan. The male parent was a phenotypically fixed F₃ selection from a cross made in 1994 between two breeding lines, 4UK-1 and P-1a. The female parent of ‘Kakegawa S29’ was an F₅ selection known as 89S-829-1a-1a-1a-1, originating from a dwarf multiflora breeding gene pool. F₁ seed was obtained from this cross in 1997.

Two hundred F₁ plants from the 1997 cross were transplanted to a field in Salinas, Calif. during the summer of 1998. Three lines were selected and vegetatively propagated for further evaluation. The three lines were propagated again in 1999, and evaluated for fixed characteristics and ease of propagation. Final selection of one line from the three was made during the summer of 1999. The line was established as ‘Kakegawa S29’, and determined to have its characteristics firmly fixed.

The terminal 1.0 to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six weeks. The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a 1:9 solution of Dip 'n Grow® (1 solution:9 water) root inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient roots were formed.

‘Kakegawa S29’ has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics after two years and four cycles of vegetative propagation and this novelty is firmly fixed. The variety has demonstrated stability during this time and has no inherent variation or off-types.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new Petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows blooms, and foliage of the plant in full color, the colors shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the mature inflorescence;

FIG. 2 shows the entire plant approximately six weeks after transplanting a rooted cutting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Kakegawa S29’. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Salinas, Calif. Three plants from fully rooted 15 cm diameter pots were transplanted to one 50 cm diameter hanging baskets and grown in the same conditions. Data was collected on plants in 50 cm diameter pots eight weeks after rooted cuttings were transplanted. Color references are primarily to the RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.).

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

Classification:

Botanical.—Petunia hybrida.

Commercial.—Petunia.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Breeding line 89S-829-1a-1a-1a-1.

Male parent.—An F₃ selection from the cross of breeding lines 4UK-1 and P-1a.

Environmental conditions for plant growth: Plants were propagated from vegetative cuttings, and grown individually in 15 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass greenhouse located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 18% nitrogen, 8% phosphorus and 18% potassium was applied in four, daily irrigations. The fifth irrigation was made with non-fertilized water. Pots were top-dressed with a slow release fertilizer containing 18% nitrogen, 8% phosphorus and 18% potassium. The typical average air temperature was 24C. The average time to initiate root development is 7 days after sticking cuttings.

Growth:

Habit.—Branching, mounding.

Form.—Descending.

Plant size.—91 cm total diameter and 76 cm total height when three plants are grown in a 50 cm diameter hanging basket.

Flowering habit.—Indeterminate.

Time to bloom from propagation.—4-6 weeks after rooting when grown in 10-15 cm diameter plastic pots.

Life cycle.—Annual.

Stems:

Color.—Yellow-green (RHS 145A).

Description.—Round, pubescent.

Diameter.—2-3 mm.

Internode length.—4 cm.

Leaves:

Arrangement.—Opposite.

Apex.—Mucronate.

Base.—Oblique.

Color.—Upper surface is green (RHS 137B) and lower surface is green (RHS 138B). Venation is yellow-green RHS 145B.

Margin.—Entire.

Size.—Length is 4.8 cm and width is 2.5 cm, both at full expansion.

Shape.—Ovate.

Texture.—Coarse.

Venation.—Pinnate.

Pubescence.—Present, clear.

Number of leaves per stem.—Leaves occur every 4 cm; the number per stem will vary with the size of the plant.

Flowers:

Calyx.—5 sepals; 2 cm×8 mm (length×width).

Corolla.—5 petals, fused.

Flower diameter.—6.0-6.5 cm.

Fragrant.—Yes.

Inflorescence type.—Solitary.

Bud.—1.8 cm in length; 5.0 mm in diameter; color is yellow-green RHS 144C.

Pistil.—Compound.

Ovary.—Superior, parietal placentation.

Stamens.—5 total with two long and three short.

Peduncle.—1.5 cm×1 mm (length×width); pubescent.

Petal color.—Limbs: upper — red-purple (RHS N74B); lower — purple (RHS 75A) with green (RHS 140A) veins. Tube: Inside — green (RHS 144D) with purple (RHS 77A) veins; Outside is yellow-green (RHS 144B) with green (RHS 140A) veins.

Petal apex.—Reniform.

Petal margin.—Smooth.

Petal pubescence.—Absent.

Tube throat diameter.—7 mm.

Tube length.—2.0 cm.

Pollen color.—White (RHS 155C).

Produces seed.—Yes; <1.0 mm diameter; seed coat with netted pattern; 8,000-10,000 seeds/gram; grey-orange RHS 172B.

Disease and Insect Resistance

No susceptibility to diseases or insects noted to date.

Comparison with Known Cultivars

‘Kakegawa S29’ is a distinct variety of Petunia owing to its pale lavender pink flower color and creeping, mounding habit. ‘Kakegawa S29’ is most similar to the variety ‘Pink Wave’; however, ‘Kakegawa S29’ has smaller flowers and a different flower color. Table 1 below shows the characteristics that best distinguish the new variety from the comparison variety.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘Kakegawa S29’ ‘Pink Wave’ Flower diameter 6.0-6.5 cm 8.0-8.5 cm Primary petal Pale lavender pink N74B Rosy pink blush RHS 66A color (upper) Primary petal Light pink RHS 75A Rosy pink RHS 68B color (lower)

Table 2 below shows ‘Kakegawa S28’ as compared to the parental varieties.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘Kakegawa S29’ 4UK-1 P-1a Flower Color Pale lav. Pink White Magenta Stem Anthocyanin Absent Absent Present Leaf Shape Ovate Ovate Broad Ovate 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant as shown and described herein. 